Zebra Technologies offers hardware, software and automation solutions for data capture, label printing and intelligent business processes.
Zebra Technologies Corporation
Lincolnshire, Illinois, USANew on Amplifa
About Zebra Technologies
Zebra Technologies Corporation is a US multinational technology company headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois, specializing in intelligent data capture systems. The portfolio includes thermal transfer printers and labeling systems, barcode scanners, RFID readers and smart labels, rugged mobile computers and tablets, machine vision systems, and software for workflows, AI and automation. The company traces back to Data Specialties Incorporated, founded in 1969 as a manufacturer of electromechanical high-speed products, and has operated as Zebra Technologies since 1986. Since 1991, Zebra has been listed on the NASDAQ (ZBRA) and serves industries such as retail, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, banking and food service. According to the company, over 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies work with Zebra; the company holds nearly 8,000 patents and patent applications worldwide. Customers include, among others, University Health, Texas Children's Hospital, Del Monte and the NFL.
- Site
- Lincolnshire
- Processes
- Frontline Software, Services/Support, AI Software, Machine Vision, Asset Visibility, Intelligent Automation, Quality Inspection, Supply Chain Visibility
- Materials
- Thermal transfer and direct thermal printing, RFID smart labels, Machine Vision, Autonomous mobile robots
- Founded
- 1969
- Industries
- Retail, Healthcare, Banking, Manufacturing, Supply Chain/Logistics, Food Service
- 01
Electromechanical manufacturing (historical)
- 02
Development of printing and scanner hardware
- 03
RFID smart label production
- 04
Software and AI development
- 05
Services and support
Solutions and Technologies
Thermal transfer and direct thermal printing
Core process for label and ticketing systems since 1982.
RFID smart labels
Manufacturing of RFID labels since 2004.
Machine Vision
Vision components and systems for quality inspection and automation, including through Matrox Imaging.
Autonomous mobile robots
Fetch Robotics solutions for intralogistics automation.
Products
Inside the production
Industries
Additional services
Reference customers
Company History
- 1969
Founded as Data Specialties Incorporated by Ed Kaplan and Gerhard Cless, manufacturer of electromechanical high-speed products
- 1982
Strategic shift to on-demand labeling and ticketing systems
- 1986
Renamed Zebra Technologies Corporation; acquisition of Qwint Systems
- 1991
IPO on the NASDAQ
- 1998
Merger with Eltron International
- 2000
Acquisition of Comtec Information Systems
- 2003
Acquisition of Atlantek (photo ID printers)
- 2004
Expansion into RFID smart label production
- 2008
Acquisition of the Enterprise Solutions Group (ESG)
- 2013
Acquisition of Hart Systems for USD 94 million
- 2014
Acquisition of the Enterprise Division of Motorola Solutions for USD 3.45 billion (Symbol Technologies, Psion); RTLS partnership with the NFL
- 2018
Acquisition of Xplore Technologies (rugged tablets)
- 2019
Acquisitions of Temptime Corporation and Profitect
- 2020
Acquisition of Reflexis Systems for USD 575 million
- 2021
Acquisitions of Adaptive Vision, Fetch Robotics and Antuit.ai
- 2022
Acquisition of Matrox Imaging (machine vision)
- 2023
Launch of Zebra Workcloud and WS50; partnership with Verizon Business (private 5G)
- 2025
Acquisition of Elo Touch Solutions for USD 1.3 billion completed; nearly 8,000 patents worldwide